Israel destroys Hezbollah tunnel in southern Lebanon as defense minister vows no withdrawal until Lebanese army dismantles militant infrastructure

Jun 28, 2026

The Israel Defense Forces demolished a 200-meter Hezbollah tunnel in the southern Lebanese town of Majdal Zoun on June 29, 2026, as part of ongoing military operations in the region. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared Israel will not withdraw from its self-declared security zones in southern Lebanon until the Lebanese army dismantles Hezbollah's military infrastructure, emphasizing Israel has no territorial claims but will not retreat. The stance aligns with a U.S.-backed Israel-Lebanon framework that conditions further Israeli withdrawals on the Lebanese army disarming Hezbollah and dismantling its infrastructure. The United States supports Israel maintaining security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza as of June 29, 2026.

Israeli operations southern Lebanon

▪Israel destroyed a Hezbollah tunnel in southern Lebanon on June 29, 2026.
▪Israel maintains self-declared security zones in southern Lebanon as of June 29, 2026.

Israeli withdrawal conditions

▪A U.S.-backed Israel-Lebanon framework conditions further Israeli withdrawals on the Lebanese army disarming Hezbollah and dismantling Hezbollah's infrastructure.
▪Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on June 29, 2026 that Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon until the Lebanese army dismantles Hezbollah's military infrastructure.
▪Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on June 29, 2026 that Israel has no territorial claims in Lebanon but will not withdraw a millimeter.

Lebanese army Hezbollah disarmament

▪The Lebanese army is required to dismantle Hezbollah's military infrastructure under a U.S.-backed Israel-Lebanon framework.
▪The Lebanese army is required to disarm Hezbollah under a U.S.-backed Israel-Lebanon framework.

U.S. security zone support

▪The United States supports Israel maintaining self-declared security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza as of June 29, 2026.
▪The United States backs an Israel-Lebanon framework that conditions Israeli withdrawals on Lebanese army actions against Hezbollah.

Perspective of Israel

▪Israel conditions its withdrawal from southern Lebanon on the Lebanese army's dismantling of Hezbollah's military infrastructure as of June 29, 2026.
▪Israel Katz emphasized that Israel has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon despite maintaining military presence in southern Lebanon as of June 29, 2026.